Sun Feng and the scarlet-robed Emissary walked along the mountain path toward the peak of Mount Tianshen, soon arriving before a quiet, two-story small building.

“Emissary Feng, let us first pay our respects to the Fifth Divine General,” the scarlet-robed Emissary chuckled. “Among the Divine Generals, the Fifth General, though younger, possesses strength second only to the First. If the Fifth General agrees to act, success is virtually guaranteed!”

Sun Feng glanced at the pavilion nestled halfway up the mountain, offering the scarlet-robed Emissary a wry smile. “The Fifth Divine General, ‘Eriqiel,’ has the greatest potential among all the Generals. My master once praised him, saying he was the most likely to reach the Void Realm! But you know his temperament... always keeping everyone at arm's length. While other Generals might respect the authority of this ‘Black Garb’ I wear, Eriqiel might not.”

The scarlet-robed Emissary was certainly aware of the Fifth General’s temperament.

When Eriqiel was young, his fame had already spread across the Great Grasslands, earning him titles like ‘Eagle of the Steppe’ and ‘Son of Heaven.’ After joining Mount Tianshen, his singular focus on cultivation propelled him into the ranks of the Divine Generals, becoming a powerhouse second only to the First General.

“Emissary Feng, rest assured! I believe that even if the Fifth General does not grant face to the Black Garb, he will still receive us out of respect for your master,” the scarlet-robed Emissary said respectfully.

Sun Feng pouted upon hearing this.

“Fine, let’s go pay our respects to the Fifth Divine General.” Having made up his mind, Sun Feng strode directly to the door of the two-story building.

Swish~~ Swish~~

Inside the small building, a thin old man wearing heavy robes was sweeping the floor. Upon seeing the visitors, he immediately bowed. “Greetings to you two Divine Emissaries. The Divine General is currently in deep meditation.”

“Announce that Emissary Feng requests an audience,” the scarlet-robed Emissary instructed.

“Yes, sir.” The thin old man bowed, then swiftly slipped through the back door beside the small building to deliver the message.

The scarlet-robed Emissary smiled at Sun Feng. “Emissary Feng, I truly believe that no matter how aloof the Fifth General is with others, he will not deny you an audience. He will certainly see you.” Sun Feng wrinkled his nose. “We’ll see... Honestly, we could have just sought out another General. That Eriqiel guy...”

Just then, the thin old man returned to the courtyard, bowing deeply. “Two Divine Emissaries, the Divine General invites you. Please follow me!”

“See? Was I not accurate?” the scarlet-robed Emissary smiled.

“Stop the nonsense, let’s go.” Sun Feng immediately followed the thin old man toward the back door nearby.

Crossing the back door led them onto a small path paved with pebbles.

Following the path, they soon arrived at an open area where the ground was flawlessly covered in pristine snow. “Divine Emissaries, please stick to this pebble path. Do not tread upon the snow on the roadside,” the thin old man cautioned while leading the way.

Both Sun Feng and the scarlet-robed Emissary understood some of the Fifth General’s peculiar requirements.

For instance, the area where the Fifth General meditated could only be traversed via the pebble path; the snow must absolutely not be disturbed. In truth, very few people were ever granted the privilege to enter this sacred space at all.

“Sun Feng! You have arrived,” a deep, slightly raspy voice called from a pavilion ahead.

Beneath the pavilion lay a red padded mat, upon which a slightly stout man in simple yellow robes sat cross-legged. Most strangely, his hair was very short, barely an inch long. Seeing this close-cropped hair, many people would immediately understand—

This Fifth Divine General was a direct disciple of the Heavenly God! The cultivation method founded by the Heavenly God was known as the Esoteric Sect!

All direct disciples of the Esoteric Sect were required to keep their hair extremely short.

“Brother Eriqiel,” Sun Feng chuckled happily.

“You have been on Mount Tianshen for quite some time now, yet you never came to see me,” the slightly stout man in yellow robes wore a smile that seemed to calm the soul. “Just as I expected. You still haven't reached the Innate Realm! Among the three great disciples of your master, you are the last one yet to achieve it.”

Sun Feng smiled helplessly. “The Innate Realm isn’t something you can reach just because you want to. What can I do? How can I catch up to someone as remarkable as you, Big Brother?”

“Aptitude and comprehension are vital.”

“But…” Eriqiel maintained his smile, “Perseverance and character are even more important! Your talent and understanding are undoubtedly one in ten million. However, your character is simply… Like this: starting tomorrow, you will stay right beside me to cultivate!”

Sun Feng’s face changed drastically. “Brother Eriqiel... aren’t you trying to kill me?”

“Hmm?” Eriqiel’s thick, long eyebrows knitted together as he stared at Sun Feng.

Sun Feng could only offer a bitter smile. “Alright, alright.” At the same time, he shot a glare at the scarlet-robed Emissary. “I knew this would cause trouble! It’s all your fault... insisting we come here.” The scarlet-robed Emissary could only smile wryly. On Mount Tianshen, countless people yearned for the chance to cultivate under the Fifth General, yet no one ever got it.

The Fifth General was notoriously aloof and had never taken a formal disciple.

“Brother Eriqiel, the reason we came today is because of a matter,” Sun Feng quickly said, glancing at the scarlet-robed Emissary beside him. “Tell him the details of the matter.” The scarlet-robed Emissary bowed respectfully toward the Fifth General.

He knew that Sun Feng could chat so freely with the Fifth General due to his special status. While he himself had reached the Innate Realm and held the rank of Divine Emissary, his standing was considerably lower.

“Divine General,” the scarlet-robed Emissary said respectfully. “The situation is this...” The Emissary proceeded to recount the entire affair concerning the demons ‘Alada’ and ‘Huhe.’ He concluded, “He slaughtered so many people from the Gale Tribe. If Mount Tianshen does not intervene, the grasslands may voice disapproval.”

Eriqiel’s brow furrowed slightly, and he glanced at the scarlet-robed Emissary. “Killed? You mean, kill him?”

The scarlet-robed Emissary froze.

“Who gave you the authority!” Eriqiel’s eyes snapped wide open, resembling an enraged Vajra deity, as he roared. “Your duty regarding intelligence is only to report these matters to the Divine Generals! Whether to kill or detain—what right does a mere Scarlet-Robed Emissary have to make that decision?”

The scarlet-robed Emissary’s face turned deathly pale in fright, and he immediately knelt. “Divine General, I... I was only considering the status of our Mount Tianshen—”

“Still arguing!”

Eriqiel’s anger struck fear even into Sun Feng’s heart.

He truly lives up to the reputation that even Master praised highly, regretting not taking him as a disciple first, only to have the Heavenly God claim him, Sun Feng mused internally. His master and the Heavenly God held equal status, and among Sun Feng’s generation, Eriqiel was indeed the most highly regarded.

“Everything will be according to the Divine General’s command,” the scarlet-robed Emissary knelt and replied.

“Hmph.” Eriqiel spoke dismissively. “The appearance of two super-experts resembling beggars on the grasslands is highly unlikely. This Huhe is almost certainly that ‘Alada.’ If that is the case... Alada’s strength is likely the Innate Golden Core, by eighty percent. The remaining twenty percent suggests he might be a Void Realm expert traveling the world to comprehend the Way of Heaven and Earth. If he is a Void Realm expert, this would mean we have provoked a powerful enemy for Mount Tianshen?” Eriqiel himself had once traveled the world, even reaching the Nine Provinces.

The scarlet-robed Emissary was too terrified to speak.

Sun Feng, however, chuckled lightly. “Big Brother, there are only so many Void Realm experts in the world; one doesn't just appear so easily.”

“We cannot be careless,” Eriqiel commanded directly. “I will handle this matter. First, hurry and find out where Alada is now! I will go make contact with him…”

“Yes, Divine General. Rest assured, we will locate Alada’s position within one day!”

Mount Tianshen’s influence in the northern grasslands was deeply entrenched, and since the Great Grasslands were vast and seemingly endless, finding a single person was relatively easy.

...

The sky was clear, the sun hanging high overhead.

A gentle breeze blew as Teng Qingshan walked with a tranquil heart, comprehending the vastness of heaven and earth, striving to create a more profound part of the Fist of Earth Travel. He had been walking this way, and by now, it was the afternoon of the second day following his battle with the Gale Tribe.

“The fist technique should be like this!”

Teng Qingshan swung his fists a few times as inspiration struck him while walking. However, if anyone approached him, they would have noticed early on. His current state was not the same as his previous moment of enlightenment; during true enlightenment, even if people were fighting and killing around him, he likely wouldn't have noticed.

“Look, that man is acting like an idiot.”

“Don’t speak carelessly, perhaps he is an ascetic cultivator.”

Teng Qingshan glanced at the distant herdsmen and continued forward with a smile.

“What beautiful white snow!” Teng Qingshan looked ahead at the towering snow-capped mountains. In this northern grassland, the constant extreme cold meant the snow on those peaks never melted.

After walking for a while, he ascended onto the snow-covered mountains and moved among the peaks—

“Hmm?” Teng Qingshan’s gaze sharpened as he looked at a stretch of snow-covered ground ahead.

“What massive tracks!”

Teng Qingshan stared in astonishment at the snow. The footprints were shallow but enormous, nearly ten feet wide. “This is the track of a huge beast... With hooves this large, and tracks this shallow, it must be a demonic beast skilled at running on snow! In this grassland, a beast this size is most likely a Snow Lion Beast!”

Teng Qingshan revealed a slight smile and looked into the distance.

Indeed, faint tracks were visible.

“Tracks this shallow, and the cold wind will soon blur them. But since I can still see them, it means the beast hasn't been gone long.” Teng Qingshan immediately traced the tracks, unfolding the Horizon Trek, transforming into a streak of green smoke as he moved rapidly forward.

Moments later—

Teng Qingshan stood atop a protruding rock formation, looking down at a massive monster within a crescent-shaped lake! Its pure white fur, the single sacred horn, and a pair of sinister, bloody red pupils revealed its identity—the Red-Eyed Snow Lion Beast!

Whoosh! The Red-Eyed Snow Lion Beast had already spotted the dirt-stained Teng Qingshan in the pure white landscape!

Seeing Teng Qingshan, the beast’s pupils instantly contracted.

“Roar~~~” The Red-Eyed Snow Lion Beast roared furiously at Teng Qingshan.

“Haha, my friend! I wasn’t deliberately chasing you; it was heaven guiding me here,” Teng Qingshan laughed loudly, his body suddenly shooting forward. He leaped from the protruding stone halfway up the mountain, descending like an arrow released from a bowstring straight down toward the lake.

Rumble~~~ The Red-Eyed Snow Lion Beast burst out of the lake, then spread its four hooves and fled eastward at an astonishing speed.